The family of one of the ten airmen who died after their bomber crashed into a Sheffield park says they do not want Tony Foulds to blame himself for what happened.

The 82-year-old said he has felt deep guilt since the 1944 crash as he believes the pilot was trying to avoid him and his friends where they were playing in Endcliffe Park.

On Friday, talking about how his ashes will eventually be placed at the monument to the 10 men, Mr Foulds said: "Then I shall be able to apologise for killing them.

"Which is what I did, no matter what everybody says.

"If it hadn't been for me being on there they would have had happy lives."

But Megan Leo, whose cousin Melchor Hernandez died in the crash, said: "I don't want him to feel guilty and don't think my family would want him to feel guilty.

Mr Foulds has spent much of his life treating a memorial to the airmen (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

"What happened that day was not the fault of the children in the park.

"Everyone did the best that they could.

"Tony has been amazing and loved this park and loved the crew in ways we didn't even know about."

The American student, who is studying in London, said: "We have nothing but absolute love in our hearts for Tony and view him as an amazing man and part of our extended family as well."

The 23-year-old said she is the same age as her cousin, who was a bombardier on the plane and gave the aircraft its nickname of Mi Amigo.

She said he was originally from Texas but his family moved to Los Angeles in the Great Depression.

He was drafted in the USAF during the war and was extremely proud to be promoted to second lieutenant when he was just 21.

Miss Leo said: "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that today would be as big as it actually was. Ten thousand people. Being able to be here and to meet Tony and thank him for his service to the memorial. And to be here in the park where it happened and my cousin died, there aren't the words for it.

"I'm so grateful to be able to represent my family on this really important day."

A Hercules (left) and an Osprey stage a flypast tribute to the ten US airmen (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Mr Foulds broke down in tears after the names of the dead men were read out at the memorial.

After watching planes, including F-15E Strike Eagles from the USAF and a Typhoon from the RAF, fly over the site, the tearful pensioner paid tribute to the men he still believes saved his life.

Speaking to the Press Association, he said of the airmen: "They've done this, and they're as happy as anything now."

He added: "It's taken 75 years for them to be remembered and what a day, what a day to remember them."

Mr Foulds said his only wish now is to travel to the United States to meet some of the crew's families.

He said he has further plans for the 75th anniversary, including flying over the memorial himself and visiting the three graves in the UK.

The flypast was witnessed by thousands of onlookers, some of whom had arrived at the park at dawn on Friday.